ENN Special Report
03/11/97 - 12:10CST
Shooting Spree Reported in
Comerica Bank in Detroit
By: C. L. Staten, ERRI Senior Analyst
(ENN) In what is being described by police as a "bizarre
incident," at least two people have reportedly been killed
and four others wounded after a gunman entered a bank this
morning and demanding that people "say a prayer."
Shortly thereafter, he took at least one hostage and a gunbattle
ensued. A total of six people were initially reported wounded in
the incident.
Conflicting reports from the scene can not confirm the actual
number of dead and wounded, but at least two people are confirmed
dead by local EMS sources. St. John's Hospital and Medical Center
in Detroit verified that it had received two patients with
gunshot wounds, a 23 year old man and a 38 year old woman. They
are listed in serious and fair condition, respectively. The
Reuter's News service is reporting that four people have died as
a result of the shootings.
The gunman was believed wounded and possibly killed by police
after he shot a hostage, in his attempt to escape the scene.
There is an unconfirmed report that the assailant also
inexplicably shot a man in the face, on the street, before he
entered the bank. An emergency service dispatcher described the
scene as "chaotic" and told ENN that that police are
still attempting to ascertain all of the facts in regard to the
incident.
ENN continues to monitor this developing story from Detroit and
has taken note of a recent rash of bank robberies or attempted
bank robberies, all involving people dressed in black or
camouflage fatigues. Copycats? Organized paramilitary operations?
Or just unrelated criminal acts? Additional details and analysis
will be provided as it becomes available.
Excerpted from the ENN
Emergency Service Report - Wednesday, March 12, 1997 - Vol. 1 -
071
(Write-through and follow-up of 12:10CST ENN Instant Update)
DERANGED GUNMEN KILLS THREE AND
WOUNDS TWO IN DETROIT ...
By Steve Macko, ENN Editor
DETROIT (ENN) - A man dressed in camouflage shot and killed two bank employees and a hostage on Tuesday during a robbery attempt before police officers shot him dead. The shooting rampage also left two other innocent victims wounded, including a 23-year-old male jogger the gunman shot in the face at random on the street before trying to rob the bank.
The gunman was described as a black male in his early 20s wearing gray-and-white camouflage clothing and a matching cap. He reportedly drove a stolen car about two blocks to the Comercia Bank located on Detroit's East Side. Inside the bank, the man demanded money and began muttering incoherent religious statements.
Detroit Police Chief Isiah McKinnon said, "He walked in with a shotgun and forced patrons and employees to lie on the floor. He forced them to recite the Lord's Prayer. He was reciting it with them as he was shooting."
The man shot and killed two male bank employees and wounded a female employee in the chin. Police were notified of the robbery by a silent alarm that was activated. Officers surrounded the bank after they learned of the situation inside.
Killed inside of the bank was the 52-year-old branch office manager and a 25-year-old retail services representative. The 38-year-old assistant branch manager was reported to be in fair condition at St. John Hospital and Medical Center.
A woman patron who was inside of the bank with her two children described the terror: "He cocked his gun and he shot, but it didn't go off. So when he did it again, I looked over there to see who he was going to shoot, but the person was laying on their side and when he got ready to shoot, they closed their eyes and put their hand up over their face and he just shot 'em in the head. Before he got to me, he shot somebody else." The witness managed to escape from the bank unharmed.
After shooting the victims in the bank, the gunman then left the bank with a hostage he found at an ATM machine and fled into an alley. Police said that the suspect held the hostage by the neck and fired at police officers several times. Officers, at this time, did not return fire in fear of hitting the hostage.
Detroit Deputy Police Chief Benny Napoleon said, "He then shot, fatally wounded the hostage that he had taken at the automatic teller machine, he shot him in the head. At that point in time, the police officers fatally wounded the perpetrator."
Some witnesses said that the gunman shot the hostage after he apparently tried to escape. Several police officers reportedly opened fire on the suspect -- killing him.
A 23-year-old man, who was shot in the face, was reported to be in serious condition and the female assistant branch manager of the bank was listed in fair condition at St. John Hospital and Medical Center.
Investigators on Tuesday night were uncertain if robbery was the motivation of the gunman. It appears more that this was the acts of a deranged individual.
(C) EmergencyNet News Service, 1997. All rights reserved.
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